Spring-wheel.



IPAI'ENIBD` BBB. y11, 1908.

H. T. DUNBAR.

SPRING WHEEL. l APPLICATION FILED 313.11. 1907.

s SHEETS-SHEET 1.

PATENTED PBBQ 11, 1908.

H. T. DUNBAR. y SPRING WHEEL. APPLICATION FILED 1363.711. 19Q7.

a SHEETS-91111111 a.

-HARRIS T. DUNBAR, OF BUFFALO, NEW YORK.- l

f s'Plame-winesI..`

, Specification of Letters Patent. l

ntena'raail, 219108.

I Apploatonled February-11|l190flh Serial No. 356.724.

To all whom it 'may concern: t Be it known that I, HARRIS TQ'DUNBAR, a' citizen of the United States, residing at Buffalo, in thel county of Erie and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Spring-Wheels, of ,which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a spring wheel' which is more `particularly designed for use inautomobiles.

The object of this invention is to produce a wheel of this character which perniits of `dispensing with the differential gearing usu,

allyernployed in automobiles, which yieldingly connects the hub and rim of the wheel in suchv manner so .as to cushion these parts relatively'to each other and still maintain a reliable driving connection between the same and which is so constructed 'that it operates to revent any sudden bodily shifting of the hub) and rim relatively to each other and thus absorbs the .shocks which occur when 'the 'wheel drops into a 4depression or--runs Aagainst an obstruction.v

In the'aecompanying drawings consisting vFigure lis a` sectional viewof the wheel taken lengthwise to the axle and showing one 'embodiment of my invention, FigfZ is asimilar section showing another form of spring wheel constructed inl accordance with -my invention. t Fig. 3 is a trans- 'verse section in line 3-3, Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a side elevation,.ona reduced scale, of the `-wheel shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a cross section of 'the same, on a reduced scale, in line 5--5, Fig. 1". Similar. lettersy of reference indicatecorresponding parts throughout the several views. 'A represents the axle of the automobile and B the rirnof the spring wheel. On the end of vthe axle is mounted the hub of the` spring wheehwhic'h is so constructed as to form part of a frictional driving connection between the same and. the rim of the wheel. -The'form of hub shown in Figs. 1, 3, 4 and\5 is constructed as follows:

` C represents an inner hub section or sleeve` .mounted onv the axle in any suitable manner 4and D an outer hub section-.or sleeve 4surrounding the inner hub section and connected therewith 'by splines c, c or otherwise so as .to compel the two hub sections to turn to movetogether` but. permit fthe same lengthwise relatively' to each other'. As shown in Fig. 1, fthe bore of the inner .tube sectinismade conical and the end portion of the axle whichreceives the same is of corresponding conical formation. The inner hubsection is rigidly-,secured to the axleby 'means of keys a" arranged between the conical surfaces thereof and a fastening screw nuto1 arranged at the outer vend of` the axle 'and bearing against the outer end of the inner hub section. l hub section the same isrovided with a rear outerV friction disk E w ich may be formed integrally therewith, as shown in Fi 1, or made separate and rigidly` attached t ereto.

On the front end of the'inner hub section is mounted va frontouter friction disk F At the rearend of the inner which is ca able of axial movement thereon but compel ed to turn therewith, preferably.'

by means of the front spline c which is made longl enough for 4this pur ose.' The front friction disk F is constant y moved toward the fixed rear disk of the inner hub. section by meansy of a yielding tension devi'cewhich may be variously constructed, that shown in Fig. 1` consisting ofl a 'spiral springl G surrounding the front part of the inner hub sectionand bearing' at its rear' end againstan annular hub iange f on the front disk kF .while its front end bears against a s crew nut g on the front end of theinner hub section. For the purpose of concealing this spring and excludingwater andA ydirt therefrom the same is inclosed by a. cylindrical hoodH which preferably connects at its front or outer end with the screw nut q and overlaps. the hub flangef of the frontbuter friction disk at its opposite. end. Upon turning the screw nut g in one direction or the other the tension of the spring'G-.xnay 'b'e adjusted asrequired and after adjustment this nut is held; against dis 'lacement by means of a longitudinal ke hvplhced betweenthe same andthe inner hu section.

At opposite ends of the outer hub v.section the same is rovided withfront and rear inner friction dis s I, I1 which maybe f orrned integrally therewith, as shown, or .inadese a- Arate and rigidly connected therewith.'

f. etween each inner friction disk andthe'adjacent outer friction disk `is arran eden-'intermediate friction disk J which lsf-connected by the adjacent spline c 'with the inner and v'outer hub sections so as to becompelled to "turn therewith but be free relatively thereto.

The rimV of the wheel may .be of any suitable construction; shownin Fig. 1, the same consists of alternate rings of steel b and raw hide or wood b1 which are rigidly secured l automobile and the passengers.l Various together by means of an annular row of clamping bolts k. Arranged on opposite v friction disks and the opposing side'of the a.d'

AL, L which are vsheet steel or simi sides of the rimV are two main friction `webs referably constructed of ihr material in the form of dished'rinfrs. 'The outer edges or marginal portions of these 'webs aie secured to opposite sides of thewl'ieel rim, preferably by the bolts k and the inner edge of each of thesewebs is arranged between 'one of the inner jacent intermediate friction disk.

0n the outer side yof each main web is arranged an auxiliary friction `web M of ring form but'smaller in diameter than the companion main web. This auxiliary web-1s secured at its outer edge to the companion main web by means ov bolts l, as shown or otherwise, so as to compel these Webs to rotate together. `At its inner vedge the auxiliary friction W'eb 'is arranged between one of the outer friction disks and the opposing side of the adjacent intermediate friction disk. It will thus be observed that by this relative arrangement of the friction disks of the hub and the friction webs of the rim, the pressure of the spring G will cause the same to be `pressed together and produce a frictional I' tion disks and auxiliary friction webs may be' increased or the same may be omitted altog connection between the disks andv webs.

This frictional connection is so determined that-it is sufficient to transmit the rotary movement of the hub to the Vrim undernorinal conditions but will permit the webs and friction disks to slip on each other under abnormal conditions. The first mentioned conditionjusually exists when the automobile is running straight while the last mentioned condition exists when the automobile is turning a corner and one of the driving wheelsof the automobile rotates faster than the other.y This frictional connection between 'the hub and rim of the wheel therefore answers the same purpose as' the differential gearing which is usually employed between the two.

'driving -wheels of automobiles and permits of dis ensing with such gearing. f desired the number of intermediate fricgetlier in which latter case the outer friction `disks will be engaged directly with the other sides of the main Webs, as shown in Fig. 2.

This last mentioned construction is suitable for wheels of automobiles which are of conip'aratively'light weight while'the construc-l tion shown in 1, having a more extensive 1 frictional contact, is intended for heavier .automobiles The rim ofthe wheel is yieldingly' held in a central or concentric position relatively to thehub by a spring or cushion device which is so constructed as to permit the hubv and rim to shift their centersrelatsj tive] to each other under varying loads and con itions and thus relieve the jar uponthe yieldingy means .may be em loyed for this purpose that shown -in the rawings, as an example, being constructed as follows: N represents` a plurality of curved springs which are arranged substantially tangential and secured at'their inner ends tothe hub while A their outer ends operate on the wheel rim. 'These springs are so arranged that their inner ends are arranged at the front and their outer ends at the rear relatively to the direction in which the 'wheel' is rotated. Each of these springs preferably consists of a long front leaf n and a short leaf nl, the inner ends'of. p

these leaves beingconnected by an eye or loop o ywhile the front leaf extends outwardly beyond the rear leaf and terminates in a rounded portion, curl or lshoe p which engages frictionally with the inner side of the wheel rim* The inner portions of the several leaf springs are varranged between the two inner friction disks of the outer hub section and are connected with the same by an annular row of connecting pins Qwhich are arranged parallel with the axis of the hub and each of which passes through the eye of one pair of leaves and is seated at opposite ends in 'openings q formed in the inner friction disks nea'r the axis thereof. Eachpair of spring leaves are also supported between their inner and outer ends by means of a in R arranged parallel with the axis of the ub and engaging with tlie'rear .side ofthe rear leaf of the respective pair while .its opposite ends are seated vin openings 1'., 1' formedl in the inner friction disks adjacentto the rperiphery thereof.

When the load is placedupon the axle and hub the ,lower springs of the wheel are strained or deflected and as the wheel rotates the several springs upon passing below the hub are successively-strained in an obvious manner. It is of course understood that the central openings in the friction webs are of such diameter that sufficient clearance is rovided between the same andthe inner ub section to permit the requisite radial movement of these parts relatively to each other under the greatest load which the wheel is likely to carry. inasmuch as the friction disks constantly grip the friction webs, the frictional contact between these parts yieldingly resists any radial movement of the hub icsl iic

and rim relatively to eachh other both when the hub moves away from the center of the wheel rim and back again, thereby operating to prevent any sudden movements o f these parts relatively to each other and absorbing or modifying the shock which occurs whenthe rim of the Wheel drops into an opening or strikes an obstruction in the ro ad way.

When the hub and wheel rim rotate 'differentially at any time, as for instance, when the rim of one driving wheelv of the automobile vturns faster than that of the outer wheel While turning a corner, the springs within t3 ll Same.

one wheel rim slip on the inner side of the In order to reduce the wear4 between theouter ends of the springs and the wheel '.rim during this sliding movement the cooperating surfaces thereof may' be oiled or lubricated in any suitable manner. If at any time the wheel 4rim'should be `moved ,v mitted to the huh of the wheel.

backwardly relatively to the hub as might possibly occur when backing up the automobile, eiach spring will be simply swung fore outer pin R whichnorinally supports the same on its rear side until it bears' against the youter supporting pin R ofl thenext forward spring without materially' vlast described, the hub may be mounted loosely on the" axle instead'of being secured thereto, as shown in Fig. 2.

It will be observed that owing.n to the fric@ tional connection between the Ahub and rim of my improved wheel no shearing action on any ofthe parts dueto rotary strains is possible inasmuch as the arts slip on one another and yield as mucli as is necessary to compensatel for any unusual or excessive strain while at the same time furnishing a sufficiently reliable driving connection be-` tween the hub and rim to answer all practical purposes.

I claim as my invention:

1. A spring wheel comprising a hub, a rirn, yielding means operating to hold the rim concentric to said hub, and a frictional connection between said hub and rim inde endent of said yielding means, substantia ly as 2,. A spring .wheel comprising a hub having friction disks, a rim4having webs arranged between said disks, means r pressing said disks and webs together, and yielding means operating to hold the'rim concentric to said hub, substantially asset forth.

3. A spring wheel comprising a hub having',

friction disks, a rim having webs arrange between said disks, a spring operating to press''sid "disks-.sand `webs together, and springs operating to hold therrirncentric to said hub, substantially as setfort'h.

4. Aspring wheel comprising a hub com- Lposed of anv inner section and an outer section, a fixed outer friction disk arranged at one end of the inner hub section, an axially movable outer friction disk arranged on the opposite end of the inner hub section; inner friction disks arranged at opposite ends of the outer hub section, a rinir friction webs connected with said rim and arranged between said disks, a spring o era-ting to press said friction disks and we 'se together, and

springs operating to hold said rim concentric to said hub, substantially as set forth.

5. A spring wheel-comprising a hub composed of an inner sectionl and an outer sec;n tion, afxed outer friction disk arranged at` one endv of the inner hub section, an axially '75 movable outer friction disk arranged on :the

opposite end of the innerjhub section, inner friction disks arranged at opposite ends ofthe outer hub section, a spline operatingto" cause said inner and outer hub sections and the movable outer disk to turn together, a rim, frictionv webs connected with said rim` and arranged betweensaid disks, a sprintf` operating to press said friction-disks and webs together, and springs operating to hold said rim concentric to said hub, substantially as set forth. i

6. A spring wheel comprising a hub `composed ofgan inner section and an outer section; axfixed outer friction disk arranged at i one end of therinner hub section, an axially movable outer friction disk arranged on the opposite end of the inner hub section, inner friction disks arranged at opposite ends of the outer hub section, a rim, friction webs connected with' said rim and arranged between said disks, a screw nut arranged on the inner hub section, a s ring surrounding the inner hub section and bearing-at its opposite ends against said screw nut and said axially 1,00 -mvable outer disk, and springs operating to hold said rim concentric to said hub, substantially as set forth. A

7. A spring wheel comprising a hub composed of an inner section and an outer section, a fixed outer friction disk arranged at one end of the inner hub section, an axially `movable outer frictiondisk arranged on the `opposite end, of the inner hub section, inner friction disks arranged at opposite ends of the outer hub section, a rim, friction webs connected'with said rim and arran ed be- ,tween said disks, a screw nut arrange on the inner hub section, a s ring surrounding the innerhub section and bearing at its opposite ends against said screw nut and said axially movable outer disk, aA hood secured to saidnut and inclosing said spring, and springs hub, substantially asset forth.

`8. A springwlieel comprising a hub cornposed of an inner'section and an outer section,`a fixed outer friction disk arranged at one.' end of the inner hub section, an axially movable outer friction disk arranged on the opposite end of the inner hub Isection, inner friction disks arranged at opposite ends of thevouter hub section, intermediate friction disks arranged between the inner and outer friction disks, arim, main friction webs conr operating to hold said rim concentric to said nected with the rim and each arrangedbetween one of. said inner friction disks and the adjacent intermediate friction disk, auxiliary gaging slidingly at their outerends with said rim, substantially as set forth.

10. A spring wheel comprising -a hub, a

rim, means constructed to frictionally connect said hub and rim, and riin centering springs each constructed of leaf form and attached at its inner end to the hub and bearing slidingly at its outer end against the rim, substantially as set forth;

11. A spring Wheel comprising a hub having an inner section and an outer section, outer friction disks arranged on the inner section, inner friction disks arranged on the outer section, a rim, friction Webs connected with said rim and arranged lbetween the friction disks, a spring for pressing together said disks and Webs, an annular row of rim centering 4s rings each consisting of a rear leaf, a front. eaf having a curved outer end bearing against the rim and an eye con neeting the inner ends of the front and rear leaves, a pin arranged in each of 'said eyes and supported at opposite ends on the inner friction disks, and means for supporting said centering springs between thelr inner and outer ends, substantially as set forth.

12. A spring Wheel 'comprising a hub havarranged in each of lsaid eyes and supportedv at opposite ends on the inner friction disks, and means for supporting said centering springs between their inner and outer ends, consisting' of a pin engagingwith the rear side of each rear leaf and su ported at its ends on said inner friction isks, substan' tially as set forth. f

Witness my hand this 7th day of February,

HARRIS T. DUNBAR. Witnesses THEO. L. POPP, E. M. GRAHAM. 

